Folding table



W. J. ARMSTRONG.

FOLDING'TABLE.

APPLRCATION FILED SEPT. 28. IBIS.

1,3 1 3, 6 62 1 Patented Aug. 19, 1919,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. J. ARMSTRONG.

FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28, 1916.

1 3 l 3 6 62 Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

4%arney5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WESLEY J'. ARMSTRONG, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MOKINNON DASH COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

FOLDING TABLE.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

Application filedSeptember 28, 1916. Serial No. 122,646.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1", WESLEY J. ARM- STRONG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tables or other supports which are collapsible into a small compact package which can readily be carried about by hand or in an automobile or other vehicle.

The objects of the invention are to provide a strong and rigid table of this kind of improved and simplified construction which can be readily set up or collapsed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a table embodying the invention, showing the parts of the same set up in position for use.

Fig. '2 is a perspective view thereof, showing the upper portions of the table folded downwardly.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof, showing the same when almost completely folded.

Briefly stated, in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the folding table comprises a lower portion and an upper portion which is supported from the lower portion and which includes an upper deck or platform, the lower portion of the table being first set up and locked into its operative position independently of the upper portion of the table. The parts comprising the upper portion of the table are mounted on the lower portion and are adapted to "be set up into operative positions after the lower portion is set up.

The lower portion of the table may be constructed in any. suitable manner, that shown comprising two pivotally connected supporting members or legs A A which, in the construction illustrated, consist of two substantially rectangular metal frames having side bars or rods 0. connected by top and bottom cross bars or rods a and a The legs A A are crossed and hinged together intermediate of their ends so that they may be swung into operative positions as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or into a collapsed position as indicated in Fig. 3. In order to hold the legs in their operative positions, the top cross bars thereof are connected by means of a .suitaflole rigid connecting member which, in the construction shown, consists of a lower deck or plate B, which is preferably hinged at one end to one of the top cross bars, this hinged connection being preferably made by bending the metal at one end of the lower deck around the top bar. At its opposite end, the lower deck or plate 13' is provided with means for releasa bly engaging the other of the two top cross bars a, such, for example, as a downwardly extending flange Z) which is adapted to hook over the cross bar, and with depending side flanges or portions 6 which are cut away at 12 When the platform or deck B is placed into its operative position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the top cross :bar enters between the end flange b and the ends of the side flanges I) so that the two legs A A are held against movement in either direction relatively to each other.

The upper portion of the tablecomprises a table top which is supported from the lower portion of the table by pivoted arms or extensions. In the construction shown, the upper deck or table top is preferably made in two sections D D, which are hinged togetherat (l in such a way as to permit the top to fold upwardly when in the position shown in Fig. 1 and to prevent the two parts thereof from folding downwardly. The table top is supported from the lower portion of the table by means of supporting arms or extensions E E which are adapted to fold relatively to the legs A A, so that the table can be collapsed into compact form. The supporting arms or extensions E E are preferably of inverted U-shape, each comprising two side bars 6 e pivoted at one end at e to one of the side bars a of the legs A A. The side bars of each supporting arm are connected at their upper ends .by means of across bar a to which the opposite ends of the table top are connected. The portion D of the table top is pivotally connected to the cross bar 0 by any suitable means, for example by bending the end (Z of the table top around the cross bar. The opposite end of the table top is adapted to be removably connected with the cross bar of the opposite supporting arm E in such a way as to hold the supporting arm and the table top in operative relation to each other. For this purpose the end of the table top is turned over, forming a flange (l and the sides of the table top are provided with downwardly depending flanges (Z which terminate at d so as to form a space hetween-the flanges d and the flange d into which the cross bar 6*? of the supporting arm supporting arms are provided with hooked portions F which are so formed as to engage the upper faces of the side bars a of the table legs when the supporting arms E E: are in their operative positions and to act as stops to 7 limit the upwardly-swinging movement of the'supporting arms when the parts of the-table are in their operative positions. By limiting themo-vement of the arms E E at their lowe1 ends by means of the hooks F, andat their upper ends by means of the table top, theparts of the table are held rigidly in operative positions. The hooks F are preferably so formedas to frictionally or yieldingly grip the legs A. of the lower portion ofthe table to yieldingly hold the supportingmembers E E" of the table in their .upper positions, thus facilitating the placing'of the parts of the table into the positions .which they occupy when ready for use. r 7 e In settinggup the table, the legs A are first-separated and the-lower deck or connecting member is placed in position to lock the'legs against movement relatively to each other. The arms are then raised so that the hooks I" engage the side bars of the table legs and the table top is placed into holding engagement with the arm E. The table is thusset up step by step and after each step the parts are held in the positions in which they are set, thus facilitating the placing of the parts of the table in position for use. When the table is. to be folded, the steps are carried out inthe reverse order mentioned.

The tableis preferably made entirely of metal, although other material may be used, thus making a strong and rigid table which can be folded into a compact mass. The tableis simple in'construction and contains few parts, so that the table is inexpensive to manufacture.

'I claim as myinvention: 7 i

'1. ,In a folding table, the combination of legs adapted to be folded together, arms hinged to said legs, parts on said arms adapted to engage said legs to limit the movement of said arms relatively to said legs, and a metal table top having one end thereof bent to form a socket in which one of said arms is pivotally secured and having the other end bent to form a hooked portion adapted to releasably engage another arm. V

2. In a folding table, the combination of legs adapted to be folded together, arm portions comprising substantially U-shaped.

members having a transverse part and free ends which are pivoted to said legs, said arm portions being adapted to form extensions of said legs, and a table top having a part pivotally connected to the transverse part of one of said arms and having a hooked connection-with the transverse part of the other arm.

3. In a folding table, the combination of a pair of crossed legs which are hinged together and adapted to fold relatively .toeach other, hooked portions on said arms adapted to engage said legs to limit the movement of said arms relatively to said legs, and a table top comprising two pivotally connected sections, one of said sections havinga part bent to form a socket in which an arm is-pivotally connected to said section and the other section having an; integral hooked portion adapted to releasabl-y engage said other arm. V y r -i at. In afolding table, the combination of a pair of crossed legs which are hinged to.-

gether and adapted to fold relatively to each' other, a member for connecting-said legs to hold thesame inoperative position, arms hinged to said legs and adapted team relatively to said-legs; means for limiting; the movement of-said arms relatively to said legs, and. a tabletop hinged at one end to oneof said arms, the other end of said table top being adapted tobe moved into locking engagement with the other. of said arms.

5. In a foldingtable, the combination of a pair of crossedlegs'which arehinged together and adapted to fold relatively. to each other, a member for connecting said legs to hold the same inoperative position, arms hinged to said legs and adapted to foldrelatively to said'legs, means for limitingthe movementbf said arms relatively to said legs, and a table top comprising two sections hinged together, one of said sections being hinged to one of said arms and the other of said sections being adapted to beremovably connected with the other arm, said two table sections being adapted to fold relatively to each other, to said first mentioned armand to said legsp f 6. In a folding table,.the combination of a pair of crossed legs which are hingedtogether. and adapted to fold relatively to each other, a lower platform movably connected to one of said legs andadapted to releasably engage the other leg, arms hinged to said legs and adapted to foldrelatively to said legs,'a table top hinged to one of said arms and adapted to be moved into locking ongagement with the other arm, and hooked legs and adapted to form extensions thereof, parts on said arm portions Which are adapted to engage said legs to limit the movement of said arms relatively to said legs, and a table top connecting and resting on said arm portions.

8. In a folding table, the combination of legs adapted to be folded together, arm portions comprising substantially U-shaped members pivoted at their free ends to said legs, said free ends being provided with hooked portions adapted to engage said legs .to yieldingly hold said arm portions in positions in which they form extensions of said legs, and a table adapted to connect and rest 16 on said arm portions.

Witness my hand, this 31st day of August,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

